DNA startup exits stealth, seeks $2m to match genes with wellness

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ConnectingDNA is emerging from stealth mode with the launch of what it calls the world’s first “DNA-wellness digital infrastructure.”

The Singapore-based company is looking to raise at least US$2 million in a seed round, its founder Cedric Lee tells Tech in Asia.

Founded in 2021, ConnectingDNA runs an AI-powered marketplace of wellness vendors. While the model is hardly unique, the company differentiates itself by personalizing the experience through DNA tests.

ConnectingDNA was born from its founder’s medical issues. Lee suffered from lifelong eczema and allergies, a condition he traced back to a gluten sensitivity revealed through a DNA test.

“When I stopped taking gluten, my eczema went away,” he recalls. “I thought, this is something that more people need to know.”

When users upload their DNA test results on its platform, ConnectingDNA’s AI processes this data then recommends products and services based on their specific needs.

DNA tests reveal a wide variety of wellness data such as vitamin deficiencies and metabolism levels. They also show how users handle stress and how good their memory is.

Lee notes that vendors on ConnectingDNA’s platform can access limited and relevant DNA data with user permission. This allows service providers to create tailored fitness plans such as diet regimens and workout routines.

The company earns revenue through marketplace commissions, DNA test sales, and vendor subscriptions, Lee adds.

ConnectingDNA also offers premium memberships that let users monitor their nutrition requirements on a dashboard. These memberships also give access to an AI chatbot that acts as a wellness companion, answering any wellness-related questions users may have.

This diverse revenue base allows the company to build a sustainable business without resorting to selling user data.

“We are not like other DNA companies where sometimes they have to sell data to survive,” Lee asserts.

Groundwork for global ambitions

While the company was founded in 2021, it only made a public splash when it raised US$550,000 in a pre-seed round three years later. But ConnectingDNA wasn’t idle during this time.